Tempura Shrimp is a Japanese deep-fried food consisting of battered or breaded pieces of seafood served with dipping sauce. The batter helps the fish stay moist during cooking.
Modern chefs have found ways to replicate these classic dishes without worrying about cooking them over open flames. Air fryers have become very popular in recent years because they don’t require direct contact with fire. Instead, they use high temperatures for cooking food slowly and evenly.
Tempura Shrimp
Tempura shrimp is made from deep-fried shrimp dipped in batter. The tempura batter is usually made from flour, eggs, sugar, salt, baking powder, and other ingredients. Deep frying food at high temperatures makes the outside crispy while leaving the inside moist.
How to cook Tempura shrimp in an air fryer?
You can enjoy delicious tempura shrimp at home with ease. Here are some recipes that you can follow:
Cook Tempura Shrimp in An Air Fryer
Equipment
- A food processor
- Vegetable peeler
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups
Ingredients Â
- Raw peeled shrimp
- All-purpose flour
- Eggs
- Water
- Panko bread crumbs
- Vegetable oil
InstructionsÂ
- Cooking in an air fryer requires preheating it to a temperature of at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To make an egg wash, beat two large eggs and two tablespoons of water in a pie plate or other shallow dish.
- Shake off any excess flour before dredging the shrimp in it.
- Garnish shrimp with panko breadcrumbs after dipping them in an egg mixture.
- Insert the basket into the air fryer and add the shrimp.
- Air-fried for 7–9 minutes, or until cooked through.
- If you can't arrange them in a single layer, create them in tiny batches. Add salt if you like.
- Serve with the dips you like best.
Video

Nutrient | Amount |
---|---|
Fat | 8g |
Carbs | 24g |
Protein | 34g |

Recipe 2:
Ingredients:


Directions
- You need to peel, devein, wash, and dry the shrimp. Then, dry them and put them away.
- Put the breadcrumbs on a shallow plate and season them with cayenne pepper and salt. Read about breadcrumbs in the notes.
- Put the air fryer on the heat for 4 minutes at 350 F or 160 C.
- Mix one egg with cold water after beating it. In the meantime, stir in the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Blend well.
- Mix well when you add the beaten egg and water to the flour mixture. Please don’t overdo it. You can use soda or beer instead of water to make the batter lighter or give it even more air.
- Don’t beat this batter too much, and don’t keep it for too long. Having a few lumps is fine.
- Dip your shrimp immediately in this tempura batter and then into breadcrumbs to make sure the batter sticks. Do this with every shrimp.
- Brush a basket that has already been heated up in an air fryer. Make one layer of shrimp. 6–8 for medium-sized shrimp. Don’t crowd too much.
- Cook at 350 F or about 160 C for 6–8 minutes, until the food, is golden brown and ready. Don’t cook the shrimp for too long. If you use tiger shrimp or shrimp that are bigger, change the cooking time to fit.
- Use tempura sauce or even spicy mayo to go with it.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Category | Amount |
---|---|
Calories | 256kcal |
Fat | 5g |
Carbs | 36g |
Protein | 25g |

Recipe 3 (Tempura Shrimp with Dipping Sauce):

Ingredients:
Dipping Sauce:
Shrimp:
Directions
- Mix the soy sauce, sherry, rice wine vinegar, oyster sauce, scallions, sugar, lemon juice, and ginger stir-in paste. Set dipping sauce aside.
- Whisk together the egg, cornstarch, flour, and club soda in a large bowl. Stir shrimp gently until they are all covered.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to heat an air fryer to 380 degrees F (200 degrees C). Then, cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the air fryer’s basket and put it aside.
- With tongs, pull the shrimp out of the batter by the tail and let the extra batter drip off. Put as many shrimps as you can on the parchment paper you saved without making it too full and put it in the air fryer’s basket. The shrimp will need to be cooked in batches.
- Cook for about 8 minutes in an air fryer that has already been heated. Do this with the rest of the shrimp. Serve with the dipping sauce you saved.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
---|---|---|---|
242 | 2g | 30g | 22g |
Variations
- To make the Recipe gluten-free, skip all-purpose flour and use cornstarch instead. (Do check the label of corn starch to confirm that it is gluten-free.)
- Also, use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
How to Store Leftover Tempura
Before putting the shrimp in an airtight container or a zip-lock bag, they must be completely relaxed. So, the batter or breading on the tempura will stay crisp.
How to warm up shrimp tempura from an air fryer
To reheat shrimp that has already been cooked, spray it with nonstick cooking spray and put it in an air fryer heated to 350 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes.
Common Mistakes
One of the most common mistakes chefs make while preparing shrimp is to use too much oil, another is not to use just fresh ingredients, and a third is to overcook the flesh.
Why this Recipe is My Favorite
Tempura Shrimp is one of my favorite items for dinner. I love tempura because it tastes great and doesn’t require much oil. The batter is light and crispy. The shrimp itself has an excellent taste and texture.
Why You’ll Choose These Recipes
Tempura Shrimp is an easy recipe for those who don’t want to spend too much money. This Recipe uses only ingredients found at any grocery store, such as olive oil, flour, eggs, and salt. The results are delicious.
You Should Read More:Â Popcorn Shrimp Recipes
Extra Tips:
Before you try to make frozen shrimp tempura in an air fryer, here are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Since each air fryer and tempura shrimp brand differs, the total time it takes to cook may vary slightly. So, watch out for the shrimp near the end.
- On a related note, some frozen tempura shrimp come already cooked, while others come raw. If you have raw shrimp, make sure the temperature inside the shrimp reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make sure you buy good frozen food and read the labels. Choose foods that have good, complete ingredient lists, and stay away from those that have fake flavors or colors.
- Don’t pile the shrimp up in the air fryer so they cook evenly and the batter doesn’t get soggy. Since it’s easy to make and doesn’t take long, you can easily make more.
Statistics:
Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Source:allrecipes.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long do you cook frozen tempura shrimp?
You can cook frozen shrimp for about 10 minutes if they are thawed. However, if you want them done quicker, drain the water first.
2. Is it OK to cook frozen shrimp in an air fryer?
Yes, this is fine. In an Air Fryer, you can use frozen shellfish such as shrimp, scallops, lobster, crab, etc., without any harm. However, if you are using fresh seafood, make sure to thaw them first before cooking.
3. What temperature do you bake shrimp tempura?
Shrimp Tempura should be baked at 150 degrees F for 15-20 minutes. It is important to cook it at a lower temperature to ensure that the shrimp cooks through without the batter becoming too dark or burnt.
4. Can a dog eat shrimp?
Yes, they can eat shrimp. However, you need to be careful when cooking it for them. Shrimp has a high fat content, making it difficult for some dogs to digest. If you are worried about this, cook the shrimp first, then add it to their food after it cools down.
5. What goes with shrimp tempura?
Shrimp Tempura goes best with rice. The light and crispy texture of the tempura shrimp pairs well with the soft and fluffy texture of rice. It also helps to balance out the flavors of the dish.
Conclusion:
Now you know some simple recipes you may use with your air fryer to cook shrimps. If you want to learn how to cook, these recipes will assist you, whether you’re looking to prepare something easy or more involved. So, what are you waiting for? Prepare to start making food. We hope you found our article informative.

Meet Natalie P. Williams, the editor-in-chief of fryerly.com. With a background in journalism and a passion for healthy eating, Natalie has built the blog into a trusted source for air fryer cooking tips, tricks, and recipes.